Sunday, July 2, 2017 THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH AT HYE POINTE ՀԱՅ ՓՕԻՆԹ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalian - Pastor

Transcription

1 Morning Service Առավոտեան Ժամերգություն 9 am Divine Liturgy Badarak- Սուրբ Պատարագ - 10:00 am UPCOMING EVENTS Առաջիկա Միջոցառումներ Sunday, July 9, Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maksoudian Guest Celebrant of the Divine liturgy Sunday July 16, Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian Guest Celebrant of the Divine Liturgy Sunday, July 2, 2017 THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH AT HYE POINTE ՀԱՅ ՓՕԻՆԹ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalian - Pastor 1280 Boston Road, Bradford, MA Daily Lectionary Readings Աստվածաշնչական Ընթերցումներ Isaiah 1:21-31, Romans 7:25-8:11, Matthew 12:38-45 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, August 20, Annual Armenian Food & Music Festival Sunday, September 3, Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maksoudian Guest Celebrant Hokehankist Հոկեհանգիստ For the soul of Ann Maksian (40 days) requested by Robert and Donna Maksian, Carol Maksian, Kap & Chris Maksian, M/M Rick Maksian & family, M/M Ryan Goff and Brayden, M/M Josh O'Neill and Amelia, Mr. Jim Maksian and Miss Lauren Petrucelli, Miss Jenna Maksian, M/M Henry Hovanasian, Miss Charlene Hovanasian

2 TODAY S GOSPEL READING Այսօրվա Ավետարանը Matthew 12: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. 39 But he answered them, An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! 43 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. 44 Then it says, I will return to my house from which I came. When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation. Name Day Անվանակոչության օր Constantine, Gregory REQUEST FOR PRAYERS Աղօթքի Խնդրանք Congratulations & best wishes to all who celebrate happy events in July birthdays, anniversaries, marriages, etc. from Michael & Sona Naroian Get well wishes to all those who are ill. May each day be better than the day before for you all from Michael & Sona Naroian Happy July to all from Michael & Sona Naroian Get well prayers for all who are ill from M/M Scott Sahagian, Eva Naroian, Bea Ohanian, M/M John Mosto, Linda & Paul Doherty Pare Nubadag-Բարի Նպատակ from M/M John Mosto Prayers & get well wishes for Rose Q. Azarian from M/M Scott Sahagian Prayer One of our most fundamental Christian responsibilities is to pray. There is truly great power in prayer. During this Divine Liturgy and throughout this next week your prayers are requested: For the spiritual growth of The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe; For more young men to hear the Lord s call to service into the Holy Priesthood of the Armenian Church; For other young men and women also to hear God s call to serve His Church. For Unity of the Armenian Church and of all Churches. For the sick, homeless, hungry, the poor and disabled; those in mourning, lonely or depressed; those experiencing emotional, physical or spiritual difficulties; For those experiencing family, employment or financial difficulties; For the increase of love and understanding among us all; For us all to gain a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ; And especially for good health for: All our parishioners who are ill or in recovery ALTAR DONATIONS Նվիրատվություններ Սուրբ Խորանին Parishioners requesting Altar Flowers and Candles for any occasion or Sunday should approach a member of the Parish Council for an Altar Flower or Candle Donation form. Name of the donor will be listed in the weekly Bulletin and Newsletter. Requests for the Altar Donations can also be done by calling or ing the Church

3 Upcoming Hokehankist Առաջիկա Հոկեհանգիստներ Sunday, August 6, 2017 for the soul of Richard Bazarian (3 years) requested by Charlene Bazarian, Craig and Rosa Bazarian and sons, JoAnn and Jason Ryan. Weekly Wisdom Donations for Hokehankist Հոգեհանգիստյան Նվիրատվություններ For the soul of Arthur Sirmaian from Gale Cifra, M/M Scott Sahagian, Robert Serabian, M/M John Mosto, Linda & Paul Doherty Every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy we are having fellowship hour. Everyone is welcome to join us for a cup of coffee and more and a treat as you linger and fellowship with others. We thank Lu Sirmaian, one of our Parish Council members, for coordinating the fellowship hour every Sunday. Sunday, July 2, 2017, will be hosted by: Annette DerMinassian, Mary Tatoyian, Alice Pahigian and Jill Thomassian. Love God and do as you please. St. Augustine, an influential Christian author of the fourth century A.D., wrote this: "Love God and do as you please." On the surface, that may seem like a license for sin "As long as I love God, I can do anything I want, and God's okay with whatever I do." But Augustine seemed to realize that if you genuinely love God, then you will want to do what honors him most. Just as a married woman who loves her husband will want to make him look good, lift him up, and honor him, so also a person who loves God will want to glorify, magnify, and honor him. If you truly love God, then his Holy Spirit will transform you such that what pleases God will become what pleases you. Jesus, who is God, made this observation: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). Similarly, the Apostle John wrote, "This is love for God: to obey his commands" (1 John 5:3). And finally, the Psalmist wrote, "I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly" (Psalm 119:167). When we love God, then we want to obey him; obeying him becomes a sign that we love him. Jesus linked love for God with obeying the commandments (i.e., with obeying God's law) in this way: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). If you love God, then his Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, will conform you all of you, including your desires into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). In this way, what pleases you and what pleases God become one and the same such that if you love God, you can do whatever pleases you and God will be pleased.

4 Family Life and Cultural Center Building the Legacy If you would like to donate to our Building Fund, you may send your donation, made payable to: "The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Building Fund", PO Box 8069, Bradford, MA Distribution of Mas in the ArmeniAn ChurCh Taking mas MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe has developed an option for those who wish to make a donation to their church in the form of stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other securities. The church has established a brokerage account and for those individuals who wish to make such a donation. The church will benefit by the donation, and you as the donor will receive a tax deduction for your donation. It is a win win for both your church and yourself. Please contact a Parish Council for more details if you are interested. Church Office: At the end of the Divine Liturgy the Mas or holy bread is distributed among the congregation. Mas is an Armenian word and has nothing to do with English word Holy Mass. Our Mas means share or portion. When you take your Mas you kiss it and eat it. It is good custom to take some home to those members of the family who were though desirous to come to church but were unbale to do so. Taking Mas does not mean Communion. It is the survival of a fellowship meal called Agape in Greek which early Christians used to have as a part of the Holy Eucharist. It is only a sign of Christian charity and spiritual kinship. The Person giving Should say; Մաս եւ բաժին եղիցի քեզ ի Սուրբ Պատարագիս Mas yev pajin yeghitzi kez ee Sourp Badarakis May this be to you a share and a portion from the Divine Liturgy. The Person receiving should say; Բաժին իմ Աստուած յաւիտեան Pajin im Asdvadz Havidian God is my portion for ever

5 Kushotz-Քշոց Commemoration of Sts. Theodotus of Galatia, Thalelaus the Physician and seven martyred Virgins of Ancyra June 29, 2017 A vessel is an object used in our church during Badarak, such as the communion chalice or candles. The Kushotz, which is a fan made of metal, with a six winged cherub on each side and with 12 little ball-shaped bells attached all around the rim of the disc. The disc is fixed on a wooden rod about 5 feet long. In the early church, the Kushotz was used to drive flies and other insects away from the communion cup. The fan also symbolized cherubs driving evil spirits away from the sacred place. That is why it is called a kushotz, as it taken from the verb "kushel", which means to drive or drive away. Today, the kushotz is used as a decorative fan and as a musical instrument during the church service, with the symbolism preserved. As the Bible instructs us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, the fan bearer (kushageer) shakes the fan during hymns sung by the choir and congregation. The fans are not used when the priest or deacons are singing. St. Theodotus from Galatia has been martyred as the result of persecutions by the King Dioklethianos. Being a wine tradesman, he seemed the persecutors to be less dubious, thanks to which he managed to help and support the persecuted Christians. He provided wine for the divine services, buried the remains of the martyrs. When upon the order of the prefect of Galatia seven Christian virgins - Tekousa, Alexandra, Kloida, Penna, Euprasia, Matrona and Judita, among whom was also the Aunt of Theodotus, were drowned, Theodotus, with the help of other Christians, manages to secretly bring out the virgins bodies from the water and bury them. However, his deed becomes known and persecutions against Christians become more severe. For saving the faithful Christians Theodotus surrenders to heathens and is beheaded after severe torments. The same day is the day of commemoration of St. Thalelaus physician. Enduring the most severe torments, the blissed saint converts to his faith even the executioners. He is thrown into the see, but is miraculously saved from drowning and finally is martyred by means of beheading.

6 Commemoration Day of the discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator July 01, 2017 Sts. Constantine (Kostandianos) the Emperor and his mother Helen June 27, 2017 The Commemoration Day of the discovery of the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator is one of the three significant feast days dedicated to the memory of the Patron Saint of Armenia. According to Holy Tradition, following Armenia s conversion to Christianity, in his final years, St. Gregory led an ascetic life in the cave of Mane on the Mountain named Sepuh where he died in 326 A.D. Shepherds, finding his body, buried him not recognizing the Armenian Pontiff. One of his students, Garnik from Basen sees a vision, where Gregory identifies the location of his relics. The relics were thereupon transferred to the village of Tordan, in the province of Daranagh, and buried there. The relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator are one of our most revered within the Armenian Church, as well as all Christian Churches. Following their discovery, some were taken to various places for safekeeping, among them Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Byzantium, and Italy. The Right Hand of the Saint, preserved in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, is one of the most important sanctities of the Armenian Church, and is used by the Catholicos of All Armenians during the blessing of the Holy Chrism (Muron). To commemorate the day, Divine Liturgy is celebrated in our Churches. King Kostandianos (born in the city Nish, in Yugoslavia), is one of the most prominent figures of the Roman Empire. It was he who officially released the Church from persecutions lasting more than 250 years and in 313 A.D., by the Encyclical of Milan, proclaimed Christianity to be a permitted religion. It was during the period of his reign that the first Ecumenical Council of 325 A.D. was convened, which condemned Arius and adopted the word Birth to show that the Holy Son has the same nature as the Holy Father and is God. King Kostandianos has supported the construction of magnificent Churches and Cathedrals in the Holy Sites of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. King Kostandianos was also a renowned captain, who always won in the battles. According to the tradition, while at war with the impostor King Maxentios, before the decisive battle, he had the vision of the Holy Cross. With the sign of the Holy Cross he faced the battle and won. King Kostandianos passed away in 337 A.D., and at death s door he was baptized according to the Christian rite. Queen Helen, mother of the King Kostandianos, was the supporter of the king s pious activity. The discovery of the wooden Holy Cross in 327 A.D. is ascribed to the Queen. A man named Judah, pointed out the Queen the site, where the wooden crosses of Christ and the two brigands could be. According to the tradition, for finding the Lord s Holy Cross the pious queen approached the corpse of a young man to the crosses. The magic power of Christ s Holy Cross raised the man from the dead and he revived. After the discovery of the Holy Cross the Pontiff Kyouregh of Jerusalem rose the cross for the faithful to see. Queen Helene has ordered to build numerous churches and nunneries in Jerusalem and around the city and brought her services there. Queen Helene passed away in 330 A.D.